Growing pains aside, I look back fondly at that home as it laid foundation for the expertise I possess today. 

🏡💰I have expertise in the market and I would really like to get more insight on what others are thinking of this market at this time.

Those offering workshops (as opposed to seminars) must not only have the technical expertise, but they must also have the ability to develop the curriculum and to make sure the instructors and materials actually teach what needs to be taught.I have also learned how little most people actually know about whatever specific area they are interested in and the problems of dealing with what they believe they know and have come to understand the importance of workshops as a prelude to hard core consulting.

Here are a few points I'm particularly interested in:Practical knowledge and expertise: Did having a mentor provide you with hands-on knowledge and practical tips that you couldn't have learned from books or courses alone?

Hey Alex, I tend to use Niche (rating showing C) and local expertise when available.

If this isn't an option then you will need to source and lock up a good enough deal where someone else gets a strong enough return and there is still meat on the bone for you, this could be accomplished with a cash out refi and then split returns after you return your investors initial capital.In either case you need to identify how what you bring to the table helps the person who brings the other pieces (cash, expertise/knowledge, or the deal) so you have a compelling offer to the investor/partner.  

However, these are general assumptions so maybe you have found an opportunity that most have just glanced over, however, I would just expertise extra caution since this is your first deal.As for your question on timing of events, depending on your situation these things can be done all at once.

Our expertise ranges from multi-family homes, accessory dwelling units to commercial properties.

You do not need to be an agent to buy a property however you want to make sure that if you are signing a state-regulated contract that may require you to be a licensed realtor.But my question is is could you find an agent to help you achieve your goals quicker than you could maybe help save you hundreds or thousands of dollars in potential mistakes that you don't know about the area.I think agents if you get the right one can be a great leverage tool to help guide you if you get the right person.When I did the series on BiggerPockets The Dream Investment Adventure helping somebody buy a property out of state in Georgia there's no way we could have done it without finding a great agent to help us and guide us and give us their connections in the local area and the local market with their expertise

For example, there are many that "accept" real estate, deeds of trust, mortgages, or tax lien certificates, but do not really have real estate expertise and experience.